Tag Archives: Hearings

Social Security – House Committee Holds Hearing on Examining Changes to Social Security’s Disability Appeals Process

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Last week, the House Committee and Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on “Examining Changes to Social Security’s Disability Appeals Process.” As stated in the Committee’s announcement, the hearing focused on “…recent and planned changes affecting the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) disability appeals process, the metrics the SSA uses to evaluate process changes, and the progress the SSA has made to address the appeals backlog.” Visit the Committee web site for testimony and archived video of the hearing.

Following the hearing, Subcommittee Chair Sam Johnson (R-TX) and Ranking Member John Larson (D-CT) led all Subcommittee Members in a bipartisan letter to Acting Commissioner of Social Security Nancy Berryhill stating that the agency should not proceed with plans to reinstate the reconsideration level of appeal in 10 states, until a Senate-confirmed Commissioner is sworn in. President Trump has nominated Andrew Saul of New York to be Commissioner of Social Security.

Social Security – House Committee to Hold Hearing on Examining Changes to Social Security’s Disability Appeals Process

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On July 25, the House Committee and Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security will hold a hearing on “Examining Changes to Social Security’s Disability Appeals Process.” As stated in the Committee’s announcement, “[t]he hearing will focus on recent and planned changes affecting the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) disability appeals process, the metrics the SSA uses to evaluate process changes, and the progress the SSA has made to address the appeals backlog.” Visit the Committee web site for more information or to access live video on the day of the hearing.

Family Support/Employment/Social Security – Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Paid Family Leave

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On July 11, the Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy held a hearing on “Examining the Importance of Paid Family Leave for American Working Families.” Witnesses were Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA); Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY); Andrew Biggs, Ph.D., Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute; Vicki Shabo, Vice President for Workplace Policies and Strategies, National Partnership for Women & Families; and Carolyn O’Boyle, Managing Director, Deloitte Services, LLP. Visit the Committee web site for more information including opening statements, testimony, and archived video of the hearing.

Housing – House Committee to Hold Hearing on Lead-Based Paint and Mold Remediation

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On June 26, the House Committee on Financial Services’ Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance will hold a hearing on “Oversight of the Federal Government’s Approach to Lead-Based Paint and Mold Remediation in Public and Subsidized Housing.” The hearing will examine how HUD remedies unsafe living conditions. Exposure to high levels of lead increases the risk for learning and developmental disabilities in children. This hearing follows the release of two reports last week: the Government Accountability Office, “Lead Paint in Housing: HUD Should Strengthen Grant Processes, Compliance Monitoring, and Performance Assessment” and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of the Inspector General, “HUD Lacked Adequate Oversight of Lead-Based Paint Reporting and Remediation in Its Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Programs“. Visit the Committee web site for more information.

Education – DeVos Testifies before House Committee

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On May 22, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testified for the first time before the House Education and Workforce Committee. The hearing, entitled “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education” covered a range of issues, including for profit colleges, student loan programs, state plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act, apprenticeships, funding for the Office for Civil Rights, school discipline, and the reporting of suspected undocumented students to authorities. View the archived webcast here.

Education – House Committee to Hold Hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education”

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On May 22, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce will hold a hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education”. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos will be the only witness. Visit the Committee web site for more information or to access live video on the day of the hearing.

House to Hold Hearing on Reauthorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

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On Wednesday, July 15, the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources will hold a hearing on “Welfare Reform Proposals,” specifically involving the reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Visit the Committee website for more information and to access live video the day of the hearing.

House Holds Hearing on Social Security Disability Insurance Work Incentives

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Last week, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on “Promoting Opportunity for Disability Insurance Beneficiaries.” Witnesses were Mike Zelley, President, The Disability Network, Flint, Michigan; James Smith, Budget and Policy Manager, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Vermont Agency of Human Services, Burlington, Vermont; Jill Houghton, Executive Director, US Business Leadership Network; John Kregel, Ed.D., Professor, Special Education and Disability Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University; and Paul N. Van de Water, Ph.D., Senior Fellow and Director of Policy Futures, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Visit the Committee web site to review testimony and archived video.

House Holds Hearing on Social Security Disability Earnings Reports

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Last week, the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on the Social Security Administration’s management of earnings reports from disability beneficiaries trying to go back to work. Witnesses were David A. Weaver, Associate Commissioner, Office of Research, Demonstration and Employment Support, Social Security Administration, and Daniel Bertoni, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Government Accountability Office. Visit the Committee web site to view testimony.